This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

“Abracadabra” is a real magical spell formulated by Cabbalist magicians two thousand years ago. Originally invoked to cure mortal diseases, the spell has since been employed as the enabling word to cause the result of a magical operation. The spell can only be used to create good results, never evil (see E.A. Wallis Budge, Lewis Spence, and others) and is so powerful everyone in the world has heard of the word.

“Good, I’m glad.” Her dark, sardonic eyes appraise me, then turn to Hi-Ho Silver. She takes her time looking at the license plate which, in the way of my home state, is embossed with the name of the county where my mother registered the car: Buckeye Heights. “You’re a long way from home. Just visiting or looking to stay?”

“Oh, I’m staying. I’m starting a new life and I’m hoping to stay here.”

“I don’t know if any apartments are available. We tenants at the Garden of Abracadabra tend to stay a long time. A long, long time.”

“Actually, I’m looking for an apartment and the job.”

“Hah, the job.” Her sardonic eyes soften. “Poor old Stanley. Always so grumpy. Some people are just like that, I guess. He’s the one you want. You’ll find him in Number One. Senor and I live down the hall. Come on, I’ll show you the way.”

“Thanks, you’re very kind.”

“Don’t mention it. I am Esmeralda Tormenta.”

“I’m Abby Teller.”

Her eyes widen with alarm. Her olive complexion turns pale. She pulls a Cross on a silver chain out of the neckline of her blouse and eyes my license plate again.

“Well! Abby Teller is famous. Everyone in the World of Magic has heard of Abby Teller.” She backs away, never taking her eyes off me. As if I’m dangerous.

Senor lifts his lip, baring his fangs.

I feel the same way about her and her dog. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t understand.”

“Neither do I. Abby Teller is dead.”

I laugh out loud. “What?”

“Abby Teller has been dead for years.”

“You must be mistaken.”

“I don’t think so. Abby Teller from Buckeye Heights died as a child of eight.”

“No, you really are mistaken. My father died when I was eight, not me.”

“Everyone knows Abby Teller died as a child by her father’s side.”

I’m not just spooked and annoyed, I’m getting angry. Confused and angry. Is she mocking me? But why? Every day since his death, I’ve missed the sunshine of Papa’s love. How dare she add insult to injury?

On her deathbed my mother told me secrets I’d never known my whole life. Family secrets. Terrible secrets. An awful thought strikes me now: did she tell me everything?

Why would this stranger fabricate such a strange story?

I take a deep breath. I need this job, need this apartment, need this paycheck. I need to start school, need to master my power. I need all these things tonight. Right now. Whatever it takes.

Okay, so smile.

“As you can see, I’m not dead.” When she brandishes her Cross, I add, “Or, uh, undead.” I press my left hand on my amulet. “I swear on the Eye of Horus, I am Abby Teller of Buckeye Heights and I am well and truly alive.”

Esmeralda peers at me. “You wear the Eye of Horus?”

The silver amulet smolders in the hollow of my throat. The arch of an eyebrow, the stylized eye, the curvilinear slashes, all set inside a silver triangle.

“My father left it to me years ago. And I further swear I’ve driven all the way from Buckeye Heights to study Real Magic at the Berkeley College of Magical Arts and Crafts.”

My mention of the college changes everything.

Esmeralda gasps. A little gasp, true, but an expression of awe and respect, just the same. “The people at the college, they know who you are?”

“I applied online, they accepted me the same day. Yes, they know who I am. I’m hoping to start my first class tomorrow afternoon, if I can scare up the tuition. Esmeralda, I’ve got to land that job. Will you still show me the way?”